Ravenna, a Study eBook

of the church by S. Giovanni[2] and the other exhibits
three martyrs, S. Cancio, S. Canciano, and S. Cancianilla,
all very beautiful figures.[3] For the church of S.
Apollinare also in Ravenna this master painted two
pictures, each containing a single figure, S. Giovanni
Battista and S. Sebastiano, namely, both highly extolled.[4]
There is a picture by the hand of Rondinello in the
church of S. Spirito likewise; the subject, Our Lady
between S. Jerome and the virgin martyr S. Catherine.[5]
In S. Francesco, Rondinello painted two pictures,
in one of which are S. Catherine and S. Francesco;
while in the other our artist depicted the Madonna
accompanied by many figures, as well as by the apostle
S. James and by S. Francesco.[6] For the church of
S. Domenico, Rondinello painted two pictures; one
is to the left of the high altar and exhibits Our
Lady with numerous figures; the other is on the fagade
of the church and is very beautiful.[7] In the church
of S. Niccolo, a monastery of Augustinians, this master
painted a picture with S. Lorenzo and S. Francesco,
a work which was most highly commended, in so much
that it caused Rondinello to be held in the utmost
esteem for the remainder of his life, not in Ravenna
only, but in all Romagna.[8] The painter here in question
lived to the age of sixty years, and was buried in
S. Francesco at Ravenna."[9]

[Footnote 1: This picture would seem to be lost.]

[Footnote 2: This picture is now in the Brera
at Milan, No. 452.]

[Footnote 3: This picture would seem to be lost.
Milanesi says it was taken to Milan. Vas. v.
254, n. 2.]

[Footnote 4: There is a Sebastian by this master
in the Duomo at Forli; the S. Giovanni panel seems
to be lost.]

[Footnote 5: This is now in the Accademia of
Ravenna, No. 6.]

[Footnote 6: This would seem to have disappeared;
but cf. Brera, 455.]

[Footnote 7: The first of these remains in S.
Domenico, the other is, I think, now in the Accademia,
No. 7.]

[Footnote 8: This picture, too, seems to be lost.]

[Footnote 9: Vasari (trs. Foster), vol.
III. pp 382-384.]

In another place, Vasari tells us that the pupil who
copied Giovanni Bellini most closely and did him most
honour was “Rondinello of Ravenna, of whose
aid the master availed himself much in all his works....
Rondinello painted his best work for the church of
S. Giovanni Battista in Ravenna. The church belongs
to the Carmelite Friars and in the painting, besides
a figure of Our Lady, Rondinello depicted that of
S. Alberto, a brother of their order;[10] the head
of the saint is extremely beautiful, and the whole
work very highly commended."[11]

[Footnote 10: Now in the Accademia, unnumbered;
it represents the Madonna between S. Alberto and S.
Sebastian.]